REPUBLICANS TRY AGAIN FOR A SENATE CANDIDATE

By Celia Cohen
Grapevine Political Writer

The Delaware Republicans have taken a deep breath for
another plunge into finding a frontline candidate to run
against U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, who will lead off
the Democrats' statewide ticket in November.

The Republicans have turned their attention to Jan C.
Ting, a law professor whose background in immigration
policy and easy conversational style have landed him
numerous appearances as a "talking head" expert from the
conservative side on CNN, National Public Radio, ABC's
"Nightline," NBC's "Today" show and other programs.

Ting has not agreed to run, although he is
considering it, as Republican Party leaders urge him to
do it with all the fervor of a fraternity rush.

"Jan Ting is the individual who has been approached
by a lot of people. It's not there yet. It's not a deal,
it's not a commitment," said Terry A. Strine, the
Republican state chair.

The party has reason to be restrained. It has been
turned down twice by potential candidates it coveted,
first by Christopher A. Bullock, the pastor of Canaan
Baptist Church in Wilmington, and next by Michele M.
Rollins, the business executive whose interests include
Dover Downs and a Jamaican vacation resort.

Still, the Republicans remain determined to locate
someone who would be an upgrade over Michael D. Protack,
a serial candidate who had previous flings for the U.S.
Senate and the governorship and has filed for the 2006
Senate race.

"I need to be neutral, but my job is to find a
candidate who can run a highly credible race," Strine
said.

The Republicans are trying to fill three holes on
their statewide ballot. In addition to a Senate
candidate, they need opponents for two-term Treasurer
Jack A. Markell and Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, the
senator's son who is running for attorney general, to
join U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle and state Auditor R.
Thomas Wagner Jr. on the Republican ticket.

Ting is a familiar figure in Republican circles. A
former Brandywine Region Republican chair, he surfaced
before as a potential candidate against U.S. Sen. Joseph
R. Biden Jr., the six-term Democrat, but never got into
the race.

There is no guarantee he will do it this time,
either.

"I'm undecided. People are urging me to do it, and I
appreciate it very much. If I decide to make a race,
it's open as to which race," Ting said. "The party needs
candidates in three top statewide spots. Am I going to
run against Markell? Am I going to run against Beau
Biden for an open slot? Maybe I'm not going to make any
race."

Ting, 57, of Alapocas, is a professor at Temple
University law school, where he teaches courses not only
in immigration law, but taxation. He has federal
experience as an assistant commissioner in the
Immigration & Naturalization Service during the first
Bush administration from 1990 to 1993, and he was
instrumental in Temple's efforts to establish a law
school in China. His law degree is from Harvard.

The Republicans are not underestimating the task that
Ting would face. Carper has more statewide wins than
anyone in Delaware history with 11, successfully running
three times for treasurer, five times for the U.S. House
of Representatives, twice for governor and once for
senator. As of the fall 2005, Carper had nearly $2
million in his campaign treasury.

Still, the party appears to be counting on Ting.
William Swain Lee, the ex-judge who ran for governor,
says he expects to be introducing Ting around Sussex
County, where Lee is the Republican chair.

Strine, the state chair, says one Republican lawyer
was so enthusiastic that he called Ting the most
qualified person to be in the Senate. Strine noted
drolly, "There are 100 people who would disagree," but
there is no doubt the party thinks it could have found
someone who is more than qualified to save it from
giving Carper an embarrassing bye.